I know this isn’t exactly a typical act of kindness, in fact, it’s one that was made possible by years of scientific research and a team of skilled doctors. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to post this video because it made me smile, and more importantly, appreciate what I have in my life.

On March 24th, 39-year-old Joanne Milne received cochlear implants to help her hear for the first time in her entire life.  Milne had been born deaf due to a rare condition called usher syndrome.  The disease also caused her to lose much of her sight, and she became legally blind in her mid-20s. She has lost much of her senses, perhaps the ones we most take for granted.  Imagine a world where you have never heard music or the voice of a loved one. Imagine losing your sight on top of that.  This video captures Milne’s reaction while trying out the cochlear implants.  She is emotional to say the least, and with good reason.

This video resonated with me because I feel like we often forget about what we have to be thankful for.  It can be as simple as being able to see and hear properly.  As Milne told the Journal of the UK, “Hearing things for the first time is so emotional, from the ping of a light switch to running water. I can’t stop crying, and I can already foresee how it’s going to be life-changing.” I think it’s amazing that she points out such subtle sounds like the “ping of a light switch,” things that we hear all the time without really noticing.  I think we should all just pause for a moment everyday and really soak in our world around us as if we have just gained our senses.  Ultimately, taking the time to really appreciate what we have is an important part of being a happy, healthy person.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/39-year-old-deaf-woman-hears-for-first-time-175051301.html